How to...
If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. When applied to quizzing, that suggests that the lack of a structured, pre-planned approach to learning the quiz material can result in an undesirable outcome. To make efficient use of your study time, there are several methods you can use to learn each chapter. Using a different method each day is an effective way to accelerate your learning and prevent “burn-out” from doing the same thing day after day.
There is no singular “right way” to study that works for everyone. The key is to find a technique that works best for you. Some ideas include:
There is no singular “right way” to study that works for everyone. The key is to find a technique that works best for you. Some ideas include:
- Listening to a dramatic reading of the scripture
- Read and re-read the scripture daily
- Write your own practice questions
- Make and use flashcards to learn the memory verses
- Have someone ask you questions and try to prejump
- Day 1: Double (or Triple) Repetition
- Day 2: Double Review
- Days 3-4: Question Review
- Day 4: Learn Memory Verse(s)
- Day 5: Write Questions
- Day 6: Review; Read & Answer Questions
Day 1: Double (or Triple) Repetition
This is likely the best method to learn a chapter. As the name implies, each verse is read 2 times (3 times for Triple Repetition). At every 5th verse, go back and read the previous 5 verses through once and then read through from the beginning once.
Method:
Day 2: Double Review
Double Review is best used if you’ve already read the chapter using Double (or Triple) Repetition to reinforce all the key phrases and words for easy recall:
Method:
Days 3-4: Question Review
After learning the source material using the reading and outline methods, test your knowledge by asking yourself questions about the chapter. A sampling of the potential competition questions can be found in this app or in the NPH books listed on the Quiz Supplies page of this app. Here is the preferred study method:
Reveal the first question of the chapter and try to answer it in your head.
Day 4: Learn Memory Verse
Even if you are not a designated “Memory Verse” person, everyone on the team should learn at least one memory verse from each chapter. Choose one (or more) of the proven methods below whether you are learning all of the Memory Verses or just one from each chapter:
Day 5: Write Questions
This exercise will help you learn how to finish a question as well as learn the details of each verse. When writing a question, the easiest thing to do is look for objects of prepositions, nouns, adjectives and adverbs. Be sure your question keeps the same verb-tense and uses as much of the scripture’s language as possible. Start by writing at least one General Knowledge question for every 2 verses in a chapter. As you get better at writing questions, go back and add other types of questions for select verses.
Day 6: Review: Read & Questions
After learning the new material, you need to review old material to keep it fresh in your mind. When reviewing a particular chapter, you should:
When reviewing old material, use the 3-5-7 Method: Review the third chapter back from the current chapter, the fifth chapter back from that chapter and then the seventh chapter back from that chapter. Confused? Here is an example:
Let's say you have been studying Luke 20 this week. So, on Day 6 you would review the scripture and questions for:
This is likely the best method to learn a chapter. As the name implies, each verse is read 2 times (3 times for Triple Repetition). At every 5th verse, go back and read the previous 5 verses through once and then read through from the beginning once.
Method:
- Read verse 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 two (or three) times each.
- Read verses 1-5 through once.
- Read verses 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 two (or three) times each.
- Read verses 6-10 through once.
- Read verses 1-10 through once.
- Continue until you reach the end of the chapter.
Day 2: Double Review
Double Review is best used if you’ve already read the chapter using Double (or Triple) Repetition to reinforce all the key phrases and words for easy recall:
Method:
- Read verses 1-5 together two times.
- Read verses 6-10 together two times.
- Read verses 1-10 through once.
- Read verses 11-15 together two times.
- Read verses 1-15 through once.
- Continue until you reach the end of the chapter.
Days 3-4: Question Review
After learning the source material using the reading and outline methods, test your knowledge by asking yourself questions about the chapter. A sampling of the potential competition questions can be found in this app or in the NPH books listed on the Quiz Supplies page of this app. Here is the preferred study method:
Reveal the first question of the chapter and try to answer it in your head.
- If Correct: Move on to the next question.
- If Incorrect: Make a mental note or put a check mark next to the question if you are using the books. Look up the verse in the scripture to be reminded what is there. Read and answer the question again and then proceed to the next question.
Day 4: Learn Memory Verse
Even if you are not a designated “Memory Verse” person, everyone on the team should learn at least one memory verse from each chapter. Choose one (or more) of the proven methods below whether you are learning all of the Memory Verses or just one from each chapter:
- Phrase Repetition – Read through the entire verse once. Now repeat the first phrase (5-10 words or so) of the verse 5 times without looking at it. Say the next phrase 5 times. Now say the first two phrases together once. Say the next phrase 5 times and then the first 3 phrases through once. Continue until the end of the verse. Now say the entire verse perfectly at least 5 times in a row.
- Verse Repetition – Read the verse several times. Now try to say the entire verse without looking at it. Once you can say the entire verse without looking, say it perfectly and as fast as you can 5 times in a row. If you make a mistake, start over with your set of 5.
- Writing Repetition – Simply write each verse enough times to completely cover the front of a piece of notebook paper. Try not to simply copy the verse, but to remember as much as you can each time. When the front of the page is done, try to recite the verse perfectly. If you cannot, continue writing the verse on the back of the paper.
- Flash Cards – After learning the verse using any of the 3 methods above, make a flash card for each of the memory verses. Write the verse on the front of an index card and the reference on the back. When studying, put incorrectly-answered cards back into the deck and correctly-answered cards in a different pile. Keep going until your deck of cards is empty.
Day 5: Write Questions
This exercise will help you learn how to finish a question as well as learn the details of each verse. When writing a question, the easiest thing to do is look for objects of prepositions, nouns, adjectives and adverbs. Be sure your question keeps the same verb-tense and uses as much of the scripture’s language as possible. Start by writing at least one General Knowledge question for every 2 verses in a chapter. As you get better at writing questions, go back and add other types of questions for select verses.
Day 6: Review: Read & Questions
After learning the new material, you need to review old material to keep it fresh in your mind. When reviewing a particular chapter, you should:
- Use the Double Review reading method (See “Day 2” for method)
- Answer several (20) of the questions you’ve written or missed the most from the question list
When reviewing old material, use the 3-5-7 Method: Review the third chapter back from the current chapter, the fifth chapter back from that chapter and then the seventh chapter back from that chapter. Confused? Here is an example:
Let's say you have been studying Luke 20 this week. So, on Day 6 you would review the scripture and questions for:
- Luke 17 (3 chapters back from Luke 20),
- Luke 12 (5 chapters back from Luke 17) and
- Luke 5 (7 chapters back from Luke 12)
Application (5-10 minutes)
Start each practice discussing the meaning and application of the material that was assigned last practice. Then share prayer requests and pray together.
Study (15-30 Minutes)
Use this time to review questions and memory work from the study material assigned at the last practice as a group or in pairs:
Play (10-20 Minutes)
After Application and Study, inject some fun by playing a game using the quiz material:
Jumping (20 Minutes)
Finally, practice jumping and answering questions in a competition-style format. Feel free to mix it up a bit to encourage even the most reserved teen to jump:
Start each practice discussing the meaning and application of the material that was assigned last practice. Then share prayer requests and pray together.
- Favorite Verse: Each teen discusses their favorite verse from the current chapter.
- Application Section: Read the chapter in sections and discuss ways to apply each passage. Write each idea on a board or in their study book.
- Mini-Sermon: Ask the youth pastor, pastor or any other teacher to explain the passage. Change speakers each week to keep it fresh.
- Skit or Dramatic Reading: Have the teens act out the chapter as it is being read.
- Standard Devotional: Purchase or make up your own devotionals, actively engaging all quizzers in the discussion.
Study (15-30 Minutes)
Use this time to review questions and memory work from the study material assigned at the last practice as a group or in pairs:
- Study Partners: In groups of 2-4 quizzers, take turns asking each other questions. Group the quizzers in their area of expertise. On the first pass, allow the use of Scripture Portions. Then review the same questions without the portions.
- StudyMap: Draw pictures on a poster representing the key points of the current chapter.
- Memory Verse: Have the entire team memorize at least one verse from every chapter. Write the verse on a dry-erase board and remove one word at a time as they are able to recite the entire verse.
Play (10-20 Minutes)
After Application and Study, inject some fun by playing a game using the quiz material:
- Hangman (or Wheel of Fortune): On a dry-erase board, draw lines for each letter of a verse in the chapter. Quizzers take turns asking for letters until they can figure out the phrase.
- Bible Baseball: Set up bases around the room. Quizzers move base-to-base by answering questions correctly. Consider increasingly difficult questions as doubles, triples or home runs. An incorrect answer is an out. Each quizzer is a team unto themselves. Highest score after a pre-defined number of innings wins.
- Trivial Pursuit: Play the game using quiz questions.
- King of the Hill: Ask questions as in a competition. If correct, quizzer moves up (to their right) two chairs with the quizzers ahead of them moving down. If incorrect, the quizzer moves down a chair. Quizzers are limited to 6-7 questions per round, forcing them to strategically use their jumps. Quizzers in the Top 3 chairs at the end of the round win.
- Speed Drills: Set up 3-4 stations around the room with an equal number of quizzers at each station. Each station has 3 rounds of question sets. A team must correctly answer all of the questions in a round before advancing to the next round. Every member of a team must answer at least two questions. First team to complete all 3 rounds wins.
- America’s Got Quizzing Talent: Quizzers jump as individuals to answer questions. Instead of being counted correct or incorrect, they are judged on a 1-10 scale based on 3 categories: Content of Answer, Size of Jump (smaller is better) and Speed & Clarity of Answer. Ideally, there is a judge for each category. The Judges’ scores are tallied for each quizzer and each quizzer is permitted only 4 questions per round, regardless of their score. Give out small awards for gold, silver and bronze medalists.
- Quizzer Feud: Two teams compete, but only the quizzers in Seat #1 get to jump on the first question. If a quizzer pre-jumps and gets the answer correct without help, the team gets 30 points (20 points if they ask for their team’s help). If the quizzer jumps at the end of the question and answers correctly without help, the teams receives 20 points (10 points if the team helps). If a question is missed, the other team gets to work together to steal a pre-jump question for 20 points and a finished question for 10 points. At the end of the first question, quizzers in Seat #2 get to jump. Continue until all quizzers get an attempt to jump.
Jumping (20 Minutes)
Finally, practice jumping and answering questions in a competition-style format. Feel free to mix it up a bit to encourage even the most reserved teen to jump:
- Doubles: Pair aggressive quizzers (one who pre-jumps) with reserved quizzers. On odd-numbered questions, have the pre-jump quizzer jump where they believe their partner should be able to complete the question. If answered incorrectly, the other teams get the bonus. On even-numbered questions, the reserved quizzer jumps where they know their partner can complete the question.
- Mulligans: Allow quizzers to use their scripture portions for 10 points on toss-up questions.
- New Sheriff In Town: Have quizzers rotate chairs every 3 questions until everyone has a chance to be the Quizmaster.
- Mini-Tournament: Make at least 3 teams of any size. Ask three-question quizzes and the winning team stays and the losing team rotates out. Quizzers quiz-out after one correct question each game. Team with the most wins at end of practice time is declared champion.
- Combined Practice: Ask a nearby participating church to join your team for practice. Bring in pizza and make it a party.